Improvement in pile-drivers



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcEe JOHN VOOD,'OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

lIMPPtOVEM ENT IN PILE-DRIVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42,038, dated March 22, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WOOD, of Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented and made a certain new and useful Improvement in Pile-Drivers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein- Figure l is an elevation of 'my pile-driver as in place for use, and Fig. 2 is a plan of the head-block of the same.

Similar letters denote like parts.

My invention relates to a manner of applying a steamhammer to the driving of piles; and it consistsin means for causing the steam cylinder and hammer to follow up the pile as the same is driven by the action of the hammer'.

In the drawings, a c are vertical slides sustained upon any suitable platform or frame, b, adapted to being moved from place to place in the same way as the present pile! drivers. c is the head-block uniting the slid es a a.

d is a steam cylinder provided with a valvechest, e, and exible pipe f, leading to any suitable steam-boiler. m is thepiston rod and l is the hammer or pile-driver.

The cylinder d is fitted with anges, l l, to take the slides a, and the hammer l is formed with guides 2 2, also sliding en a'.

The weight of the cylinder and hammer is sustained before commencing to drive the pile by the rope or chain g passing over pulleys h h on the head-block c, to any suitable drum or pulley actuated by an engine or otherwise, so as to draw the cylinder and hammer to the top of a.

I also provide ropes or chainsz' z', passing from the cylinder el over pulleys 3 3, and down to near the bottom of the slides c, and beneath the pulleys 4 4 up to near the head of the pile k,where the ends of said rope or chains are to be attached by hooks over spikes driven into the pile, or by eyes in a band surrounding such pile near the upper end thereof.

The valve-rod 5 of the engine is to be actuated by a rope or chain to the attendant or by a connection to the hammer, so that the valve will be moved by such hammer when the same has moved a given distance from the cylinder, all of which devices are well known in steam-engines and steam-hammers and do not require further description or illnstration.

It will be understood that the cylinder d is to be drawn up, the pile placed in position, and the length of the ropes v3 or chains is such that when the hammer rests upon the pile the piston in the steam-cylinder d will be near the lower head ot' the said cylinder, and the rope or chain g, that had sustained the weight 0f the cylinder, is now rslackened, and the whole weight of cylinder and hammer rests on the pile, the hammerdirectly, and the cylinder, through the ropes or chains 'i i, tend to draw the pile down. the parts will settle the pile into the mud or soft earth, and as soon as the attendant lets the steam on, the hammer is raised and dropped upon the pile, and may be thrown down with force by steam admitted on the opposite side of the piston, as in steamhammers.

As the piston is raised for the next blow the cylinder will descend as much as the ropes or chains M will allow it, the same being the extent the pile has been driven, and so on the cylinder will descend as the pile is driven.

lf desired to sustain the cylinder against any upward action of the steam as it is let in above the piston to throw the hammer down with force on the pile, I employ pawls n n, taking ratchet-teeth on slides a, as represented. These pawls n n are to be turned back out of the way previous to the cylinder and hammer being again hoisted by the rope g for driving another pile.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A steam cylinder and hammer litted in slides and connected by ropes or chains with the pile substantially as specied, so that the cylinder is lowered by the act of driving the pile, and maintains a position sufficiently lnear the top of the pile to cause the hammer to be operative thereon, as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 11th day of February', 1864. l

JOHN WOOD. Witnesses:

LEMUEL W. SERRELL, Unas. H. SMITH.

Hence the weight of 

